The 8 Monitor Matrix

Types of LCD Panels

LCD panels all use active matrix technology (passive matrix is used in small applications like watches). Below is a list of active matrix technology LCD panel types in mass production today.

TN
(Twisted Nematic)

The lowest cost and most widely sold LCD panel type. TN panels have fast response times (2ms-5ms typical). Color reproduction, and contrast ratios of TN panels are not as good as VA or IPS panels. TN panels only produce 6-bit color. TN panels attempt to produce 8-bit color using a process called dithering. For watching the markets, however, they work fine. The monitors we offer are TN monitors.

VA
(Vertical Alignment)

These monitors offer better color reproduction and wider viewing angles than TN panels, but have slower response times. Uninformed buyers often mistake the somewhat slower response times of the VA monitors for inferiority to the faster (TN) monitors. Color reproduction is much better, blacks are blacker, and they have higher contrast ratios then TN panels. We do not offer VA panels because of their limited side angle viewing quality. When you have a lot of monitors, you are rarely looking directly at them all at once.

IPS
(In Plane Switching)

These are the best, most expensive, and rarest of LCD monitors. Prices for these monitors are at least 50% higher and may be over 300% higher for larger sizes. Color accuracy is very impressive and the side viewing angle quality is excellent. The response times are slower than TN monitors (typically more than 6ms). Many are too slow for gaming purposes. IPS panels also consume more power than TN or VA panels. The big advantage for IPS monitors is color quality. For traders the TN monitors produce more than adequate color quality for your charts. If you use your computer for graphic design work or watching movies then the IPS panel may be a better choice.

Free Trading Guides from Falcon

The Learn How to Trade Guide helps the beginning trader to understand his/her choices and different paths in the world of trading. Selecting the path right for you is very important. Many beginning traders could have done much better if they had a better understanding of all their options. Is Stocks or Forex or Options or Futures your best choice? What methodologies should you consider? What time frame should you trade?

This guide summarizes what it takes to become an independent trader (no day job) or a serious trader who still wants to keep his day job. What should you expect for returns? What broker should you use? What software should you use? Risk Management is where most new traders fail by trading too much risk on each trade. We will guide you on proper risk management. What about automated trading? What equipment should you have? A must read for most beginning and intermediate traders.

At Falcon we sell computers to a lot of veteran traders. In this guide we try to focus on some of the core principals of what we have learned in trading and on what our veteran traders have told us they have learned.